Providing autonomy to the part of Donbas uncontrolled by Kyiv is unacceptable for Ukraine as the Russian protectorate over this territory will be legitimized as a result, Foreign Minister of Ukraine Pavlo Klimkin says.

"If we grant autonomy to the Donbas, as Russia wants, it will lead to the federalization of Ukraine, to its weakening and separation. This is what Russia strives for. It will be a legitimization of the Russian protectorate in the Donbas. After that the Russian strategy is to reintroduce this protectorate into Ukraine like a Trojan horse," Klimkin explained in an interview

According to him, it is necessary to stop the attacks, allow the OSCE to monitor the entire territory and the part of the border between Ukraine and Russia, as well as withdraw weapons in order to steer toward peace in the Donbas. This will be a prerequisite for talks on holding "transparent and fair elections" in the Donbas.

"Can we start preparing for the elections having such an immense number of weapons in the Donbas and its constant inflow through the Ukrainian-Russian border?" the minister said.

Klimkin stressed that Ukraine advocated adherence to the Minsk agreements and negotiations in the Normandy format.

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